Statistics and Definitions

Statistics:

•One in three teens are victim of some form of abuse in a romantic relationship(including verbal and emotional abuse)

•40% of high school girls–ages 14 to 17–know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by their boyfriend (or girl friend)

•Almost 80% of girls who have been physically abused in an intimate relationships continue to date their abuser. (This happens for many different reasons. They may feel stuck. They might be afraid of what their abuser might do to them if they break up. They might not have any support. Sometimes, they don’t even know that what is going on is wrong……Never judge someone who is in an abusive relationship, just be there for support and remind them that they deserve better.)

•1 in 4 teenage girls who have been in relationships reveal they have been pressured to perform oral sex or engage in intercourse.

•1 in 4 females will be the victim of sexual abuse by the time they graduate from college.

Sexual Violence:

•According to the U.S. Department of Justice, somewhere in America, a woman is raped every 2 minutes. Victims of sexual assault and rape stretch across every age, race, class, gender and demographic and it is disturbingly common. Sexual violence is the most common violent crime on American college campuses today. Young women, ages 16-24 are FOUR times more likely to be raped than other women.1 in 4 women will experience rape or attempted rape during college

•84% of rape victims know their attacker

•For every 1 rape reported, it is estimated that 6 are not

•The most common reasons women give for why they did not report the crime is the belief that it is a private, personal matter or they are afraid their assailant will retaliate.

•In 75% of college rapes, alcohol is involved. 55% of victims and 80% of perpetrators were intoxicated. Alcohol is the #1 date-rape drug.

•1 in 12 college men admitted that they have performed acts that could be defined as rape.

•30% of men admitted they would force someone to have sex with them if they knew they would not get in trouble.

•On average, it takes a victim of sexual assault/abuse 5 years to tell anyone about the incident.

•70% of women with eating disorders have been sexually assaulted or abused in their lifetime

•99% of rape victims are female (10% male)

•99% of rapes are perpetrated by men (1% are perpetrated by women)

•Approximately 28% of victims are raped by husbands or boyfriends, 35% by acquaintances, and 5% by other relatives.

•The FBI estimates that only 37% of all rapes are reported to the police. U.S. Justice Department statistics are even lower, with only 26% of all rapes or attempted rapes being reported to law enforcement officials.

•In a national survey 27.7% of college women reported a sexual experience since the age of fourteen that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape, and 7.7% of college men reported perpetrating aggressive behavior which met the legal definition of rape.

•The National Crime Victimization Survey indicates that for 1992-1993, 92% of rapes were committed by known assailants. About half of all rapes and sexual assaults against women are committed by friends and acquaintances, and 26% are by intimate partners.

•Victims of rape often manifest long-term symptoms of chronic headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbance, recurrent nausea, decreased appetite, eating disorders, menstrual pain, sexual dysfunction, and suicide attempts. In a longitudinal study, sexual assault was found to increase the odds of substance abuse by a factor of 2.5.

•Victims of marital or date rape are 11 times more likely to be clinically depressed, and 6 times more likely to experience social phobia than are non-victims. Psychological problems are still evident in cases as long as 15 years after the assault.

**Statistics compiled through Violence against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics,
U.S. Dept. of Justice, RAINN, and Porchlight Counseling Center.

Definitions:

Stalking:The exact definition of stalking varies by state, but in general, stalking refers to “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that involves repeated visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual communication, or verbal, written, or implied threats, or a combination thereof, that would cause a reasonable person fear.”

Any other behavior used to contact, harass, track, or threaten the individual.

Cyberstalking: threatening behavior or unwanted advances directed at another using the Internet and other forms of online and computer communications. Cyberstalking can take forms such as:

Threatening/obscene emails

Live chat harassment or flaming (online verbal abuse)

Harassment through texting

Hacking and/or monitoring a victim’s computer and internet activity

Forming a website in honor of a victim

Can include off-line stalking/harassments such as following a victim or actual physical contact between a stalker and his/her victim

Sexual harassment: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in which submission to or rejection of such conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s work or school performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or school environment.

Rape/sexual assault: Forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Penetration may be by a body part or an object.

Acquaintance assault: involves coercive sexual activities that occur against a person’s will by means of force, violence, duress, or fear of bodily injury. These sexual activities are imposed upon them by someone they know (a friend, date, acquaintance, etc.).

Incest: sexual contact between persons who are so closely related that their marriage is illegal (e.g., parents and children, uncles/aunts and nieces/nephews, etc.). This usually takes the form of an older family member sexually abusing a child or adolescent.

Consent: Consent occurs when both partners freely and willingly participate in sexual activities.

The legal definition of rape includes any sexual contact without consent. Consent cannot be legally given in the state of Illinois if a person is:

- Under 17

- Mentally incapacitated

- Drunk or high

- Coerced

- Forced

Additionally, the absence of “no” does not mean “yes.” So, even if a person does not fight back or explicitly say “no,” they still are not necessarily giving consent.

Think You Don’t Know Anyone Who Has Been A Victim of Abuse?

"According to a recent survey conducted by Liz Claiborne Inc. and the Family Violence Prevention Fund, nearly 1 in 3 teenagers who have been in a relationship report actual sexual abuse, physical abuse, or threats of physical abuse."

Even if you're not aware of it, chances are someone you know has been a victim.